The following is a snapshot of certain Department of Homeland Security activities along the Southwest border. This rundown provides a thumbnail of each incident and an invitation to contact us for more information.

Joint Field Command Statistics –Over the last 48 hours in Arizona

(Narcotics weights are measured in pounds)

Marijuana seized 2,447

Heroin seized 15

Cocaine seized 13

Methamphetamines seized 9

Individuals presented in federal court for prosecution* 203

Individuals prosecuted under Operation Streamline* 144

Individuals prosecuted on federal drug charges* 13

*These numbers only represent those apprehended by Border Patrol and presented for prosecution.

On April 27, a 29-year-old U.S. citizen female attempted to enter the U.S. through a pedestrian lane at the San Luis Port with her toddler son. The woman was referred for a secondary inspection after the CBP officer noticed her shoes seemed to be extremely large for her size. Further inspection resulted in the discovery of more than 2.31 pounds of heroin, with an estimated value of $31,416, hidden inside her shoes. The child was turned over to an adult family member and the subject was taken into custody and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further investigation.

On April 27, a 35-year-old U.S. citizen female attempted to enter the United States through a Dennis DeConcini Port vehicle lane. A records check revealed an outstanding arrest warrant for fraud in Maricopa County, Ariz. The subject was taken into custody and turned over to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.

On April 26, a 22-year-old U.S. citizen male attempted to enter the United States through a Douglas Port vehicle lane and was referred for a secondary inspection. During the secondary inspection a narcotics detection canine alerted to the vehicle. Subsequently, 50 packages of marijuana weighing more than 82 pounds with an estimated value of $41,095, were seized. The subject was taken into custody and turned over to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On April 26, a 35-year-old Mexican male traveling with his family attempted to enter the United States through a Lukeville Port vehicle lane. A records check revealed an outstanding arrest warrant on drug charges from Maricopa County, Ariz. The subject was taken into custody and turned over to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. The family members traveling with the subject were released.

On April 26, CBP import specialists and ICE HSI special agents seized a portion of a toy shipment that was exiting the United States through the Mariposa Port commercial facility. On April 13, the shipment was offloaded and inspected for trademark infringement. Fifty cases of toys were suspected of infringing the trademarks of several toy manufacturers and were held for verification of authenticity.

On April 26, CBP officers conducting outbound operations at the Dennis DeConcini Port referred a 42-year-old Mexican male and the vehicle he was driving for a secondary inspection. Subsequently, parts from AK-47 assault weapons were discovered concealed in the vehicle’s spare tire. The subject was taken into custody and turned over to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On April 26, an 18-year old Mexican male attempted to enter the United States through a Dennis DeConcini Port vehicle lane and was referred for a secondary inspection. During the secondary inspection a narcotics detection canine alerted to the vehicle. Subsequently, 10 packages of heroin and two packages of methamphetamines, which were concealed in the vehicle’s dash area, were removed. The heroin weighed more than 12 pounds with an estimated value of $381,480 and the methamphetamines weighed more than two pounds with an estimated value of $76,725. The subject was taken into custody and turned over to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On April 26, a 22-year-old U.S. citizen male attempted to enter the United States through a Dennis DeConcini Port vehicle lane and was referred for a secondary inspection. A narcotics detection canine alerted to the vehicle. Subsequently, 32 packages of marijuana were discovered in the vehicle. The narcotics weighed more than 91 pounds with an estimated value of $45,550. The subject was taken into custody and turned over to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On April 27, agents assigned to the Willcox Station working at the State Route 80 Checkpoint referred a vehicle for a secondary inspection after a Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle. Agents searched the vehicle and discovered several hidden compartments containing more than 6.7 pounds of methamphetamines with an estimated value of $103,850. The driver was arrested and is being prosecuted for drug smuggling.

On April 26, a Willcox Station canine team working near Highway 80 arrested two U.S. citizens who were attempting to smuggle 101 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value of $50,500. The subjects had a seven-year-old child with them during the smuggling attempt. The vehicle and marijuana were seized and prosecution is being sought for the adults. The child was turned over to Child Protective Services after all efforts to locate relatives were exhausted. (Photos available)

On April 26, Casa Grande agents responded to a citizen’s report of two suspicious vehicles being loaded with possible narcotics near Federal Route 42. Agents responded to the area and conducted vehicle stops on both vehicles. A search of the vehicles yielded 10 bundles of marijuana weighing a total of 222 pounds with a street value of $110,750. All subjects attempted to flee from the vehicles, but agents were able to quickly track and apprehend them. One subject was in possession of a loaded .40 caliber handgun. The vehicles and marijuana were seized and the subjects were held for prosecution.

On April 26, agents from the Casa Grande Station apprehended a Guatemalan national. The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System revealed a 2007 conviction for Aggravated Assault of a Child and Lewd & Lascivious Acts with a Child in California. The subject is being prosecuted for Re-Entry of an Aggravated Felon.

In February, CBP announced the Arizona Joint Field Command (AZ-JFC) — an organizational realignment that brings together Border Patrol, Air and Marine, and Field Operations under a unified command structure to integrate CBP’s border security, commercial enforcement, and trade facilitation missions to more effectively meet the unique challenges faced in the Arizona area of operations.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) promotes homeland security and public safety through the criminal and civil enforcement of federal laws governing border control, customs, trade, and immigration. ICE and CBP collaborate in investigations regarding criminal organizations with a nexus to the border.

Since launching the Southwest Border Initiative in March 2009, the Obama administration has engaged in an unprecedented effort to bring focus and intensity to Southwest border security, coupled with a reinvigorated, smart and effective approach to enforcing immigration laws in the interior of our country.

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